Coach Jamie Smith and Dave Ruckle, two of the area’s weathered and gnarled softball gurus, garnered the state trophy despite losing one of the top pitchers in the state in Sarah Appold due to an injury. But the Express girls gritted their teeth, hit the ball when they needed to, rode the Sam Willman work-horse through the tournament in her punishing pitching to regain state bragging rights.
Coach Jamie Smith sas again hand plucked and assembled one of the fiercest and gnarliest group of rugged ballers to compete in the NSA and ASA Tournaments. Smith brought onto her staff Valley Lutheran’s strong-armed hurler, Sarah Appold – a girl she knows all so well having competed against her in post-season play multiple times. She also brought on another Charger in speedy little Kara Engelhardt. Smith also garnered the respect of U.S.A’s Tessa Dinsmoore and added one more slugger to the mix. Then for additional measure, Coach Smith managed to scoop up the crown jewel of Surrey Township: Lyndsay Ruckle.
